Latest news with #armedguards
The Guardian
02-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Robert Jenrick's call to arm prison officers is ‘nonsense', governors say
Robert Jenrick's demand for armed prison guards has been described as 'headline-grabbing nonsense' by organisations representing governors and staff. The shadow justice secretary, who has made a series of eye-catching demands over the last few days, said on Sunday that prison officers should be allowed to carry guns and build up 'armouries' to clamp down on violence from Islamist gangs and violent prisoners. Tom Wheatley, the president of the Prison Governors' Association, told the Guardian: 'The firearms/lethal force armouries suggestion is just headline-grabbing nonsense. 'If this was needed, why wouldn't armed police be deployed rather than creating another trained force in our service? 'It is likely that the Lord Chancellor [Shabana Mahmood] is considering wider use of protective body armour, but the focus should be on the need for more investment to counter drones and serious organised crime,' he said. The Prison Officers' Association (POA), which has warned that it is only a matter of time before a prison officer is murdered because of a rise in prison violence, has also poured cold water on the Tories' demand for guns in prisons. Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, said: 'We are asking for Tasers and the use of non-lethal options. If we ever need firearm support we have an agreement with chief constables to provide mutual aid. 'The Tories think we need this level of protection but we need to exhaust all other options first, including adequate protections for staff and 'supermax' facilities,' he said. On Friday, a prison officer at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire was seriously injured when he was stabbed by a violent inmate with a knife that was believed to have been flown into the high-security jail by a drone. Last month, Hashem Abedi, the Manchester Arena bomber, who is serving life for 22 murders, attacked three officers in a separation unit at the high security HMP Frankland, in County Durham. Shabana Mahmood, the lord chancellor, has ordered a review into whether to issue frontline officers with stab vests, as well as a trial of Tasers, and the suspension of prisoners' use of kitchens in separation units used to segregate Islamist terrorists. In an article for the Telegraph, Jenrick said: 'We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'That means arming specialist prison officer teams with Tasers and stun grenades, as well as giving them access to lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances. 'If prison governors can't easily keep terrorist influencers and radicalising inmates apart from the mainstream prisoners they target, then we don't control our prisons – they do. We must take back control and restore order by giving officers the powers and protection they need.' Whitehall sources said that taking guns on to the prison estate would make officers carrying weapons a 'deadly target' for prison gangs. Jenrick has generated eye-catching headlines over recent days, but has denied that he wishes to replace Kemi Badenoch as Tory leader. On Thursday, he posted a video of himself online confronting people he accused of fare-dodging in central London. A spokesperson for Jenrick has been approached for a comment.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Armed security guards heading to KC's Country Club Plaza via new owners
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Armed security guards are coming to the Country Club Plaza, according to workers with the new ownership group Highland Park (HP) Village. Even if you go there Friday evening, you may see them in black uniforms walking the streets. Workers of the Dallas-based company spoke on Friday afternoon. They have an office on Broadway just south of 47th Street. HP Village has hired Metro Public Safety out of Gladstone to walk the streets. Those guards are in training on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They were quite visible on 47th Street and on Broadway Friday afternoon. Man found dead in parking garage in downtown Kansas City 'I think it's smart,' Plaza shopper and Kansas City, Kansas resident Jenny Lange said. 'You want to protect the businesses, protect the people.' The majority of the people think having armed guards in the area is a good thing. 'I don't know why everybody thinks guards are a bad thing. I mean, guards keep you safe,' Lange continued. 'Are they worried it's going to make it look like it's unsafe, because there's a reality of life we live in today. Do you want reality, or do you want to pretend like you feel safe?' The new guards on the Plaza are Class A security guards, too, which means they can detain suspects, unlike Class B ones. HP Village wouldn't comment in time for our deadline Friday on what kind of training these guards go through. They did send a statement, though. 'The safety and security of our customers remains our top priority at Country Club Plaza, as we continue to provide a safe, family-friendly environment,' Chief Marketing Officer Victoria Snee said. 'We have recently engaged a new security company. Some improvements include shifting from unarmed to Class A armed security officers, adding additional highly trained patrol officers on all shifts as well as more patrol cars. We will continue to have a heavy Kansas City Police Department off-duty presence. There will also be more security cameras added throughout the property while existing ones are upgraded with enhanced technology.' Hunter Wilson, who's working on The Plaza right now, likes the idea of having armed guards based on what happened to him. 'I was at work one day, and I came back out to my car, and my window was broken,' Wilson said. 'They basically just took everything out of my car.' Aldo Shoe Store Manager Emily Lopez says she likes the idea of having armed guards patrol the streets, too. 'I've actually worked at St. Louis' Galleria Mall,' Lopez said. 'They had armed security. They were more on things like cameras, 24-hour surveillance, like if anything goes wrong with your car, they have the capture of that, and that's what we need too… definitely.' Man sentenced for 'Swatting' call that led to Kansas City IRS lockdown The owner of a furniture store, on the other hand, doesn't know whether the guards are necessary. 'We never felt that we were in any kind of situation or danger or whatever you would want to call it,' Terrasi Living & Scandia Home Owner Ursula Terrasi said. The Metro Public Safety guards officially start on the Plaza on Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
